Blagojevich administration enacts salon safety rules to prevent infections

Regulations to make spa treatments safer for Illinoisans         

[MAY 26, 2006]  CHICAGO -- Spa treatments are increasingly popular among both men and women in Illinois. To ensure that a trip to a nail salon or day spa doesn't result in an infection caused by poor hygiene, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has new rules in place to mandate stringent cleaning and sanitation standards developed in coordination with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

"The rules taking effect this week will ensure that salon owners take their responsibilities seriously," said Dean Martinez, secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. "We want to make sure that people who pamper themselves at Illinois-licensed salons get the safe conditions they expect and deserve."

The new rules, published in the Illinois Register this week, establish cleaning procedures each salon must use to minimize the exposure of salon patrons to infection. The careful sterilization procedures outlined by the state of Illinois will help dramatically reduce health risks that may arise from clusters of bacterial infections, which have occurred in other states.

For the past 18 months, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has been conducting an education campaign reaching out to more than 6,000 salons across the state about the new sanitation standards. Now that the new rules are in effect, the department will be able to enforce the standards through disciplinary actions against the licenses of salons and nail technicians. These enforcement actions can range from a reprimand to revocation of the salon license.

"Now that these rules have the force of law, we will be able to impose disciplines on salons that don't understand how seriously we take these basic safety requirements," said Daniel E. Bluthardt, director of the Division of Professional Regulation. "Our education campaign has been effective in improving the safety of Illinois salons. With these new rules, our enforcement team has the tools needed to make sure every salon is safe and sanitary."

In 2004, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Department of Public Health conducted field tests on random Illinois salons, after learning of an outbreak of more than 150 reported cases of skin boils caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum and other related mycobacteria in California spa pedicure customers. When the results of the field test were received, the inspectors found that a significant percentage of the salons' spa pedicure whirlpools tested positive for the bacteria. While this bacterium is commonly found in water and soil, the warm, wet climate of a spa pedicure is the perfect breeding ground for these germs to multiply.

Additional information is available at www.idfpr.com.

The text of the sterilization rules:

Pedicure equipment cleaning and disinfecting procedures

The following procedures, as developed by the International Nail Technicians Association, shall be followed for all pedicure equipment, such as whirlpool pedicure foot spas, self-contained foot basins, sinks and pedicure bowls:

1. After each client:

1. Drain all water from the foot spa, pedicure basin or bowl.

2. Clean the interior surfaces and walls of the foot spas or basin with soap or detergent to remove all visible debris; rinse with clean, clear water.

3. Disinfect by spraying the interior surface of the foot basin or bowl with either an EPA-registered disinfectant (demonstrated bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal activity used according to manufacturer's instructions) or 10 percent bleach solution.

4. Wipe dry.

2. At the end of every day, after the last client:

1. Perform the procedures of 1.C.

2. Remove the screen from whirlpool basin. All debris trapped behind the screen of each foot spa shall be removed with a brush and soap or detergent; then the screen and the inlet shall be cleaned to remove all visible debris with soap or detergent and water.

3. Before replacing the screen, totally immerse the screen in either an EPA-registered disinfectant or 10 percent bleach solution.

4. Fill the basin with warm water and low-sudsing soap, turn the system on, and flush the spa system for five minutes; then rinse and drain.

3. Once every week:

1. Repeat the procedures of 2.C.; then fill the foot spa or basin with cold water and one tablespoon of 5.25 percent liquid household bleach (or the equivalent) for each gallon of water, based on the capacity of unit.

2. Turn unit on and circulate the bleach solution through the system for five to 10 minutes; turn unit off.

3. Let the bleach solution sit in the spa or pedicure basin overnight (at least six to 10 hours).

4. The following morning, and before the first client, drain bleach solution.

5. Fill the basin with clean water, turn the system on and flush the system with clean water, and drain.

6. Make a record of the date and time of this cleaning and disinfecting. The record for the last 90 days shall be readily accessible and available upon client or inspector request. Separate logs for weekly and daily procedures are needed but may be kept in the same document log.

[Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation news release]